Nebula - n-Prize competition entrant No. 1

You are here: Home > Design

Satellites &
Deployment

Home	>	About
	>	Mission Profile
	>	Simulations
	>	Design Navigation Telemetry Abort & Recovery Engine Fuel & Oxidiser Satellites
	>	Production
	>	Testing
	>	Crew
	>	Launch Data
	>	Contact

Links

Satellite Types

There are four satellite types that will be launched from the rocket Ambition:

1. A passive, optically detectable satellite ('A') + More
2. An active, optically detectable satellite ('B') + More
3. An active, radio detectable satellite ('C') + More
4. A top-secret satellite type ('JFF') + More

We've chosen to launch four completely independent satellites to give the best chance of success in deployment and subsequent detection.

Because the satellites themselves are essential to the mission's success but contribute a very small part in both complexity, mass and cost, it makes sense to employ multiple redundancy in this area.

Deployment

All four satellites are lauched from the front of the rocket.

On reaching orbit, the nosecone unlocks and swings to one side exposing 3 launch tubes in the main rocket body which house Satellites B, C and JFF. Satellite A is housed in the nosecone itself.

Deployment is managed in stages with the timed release of a pulse of compressed air in the relevent launch tube. A sense wire at the end of the tube will signal that the satellite has left the body of the rocket.

Mission Patch

Nosecone unlocked exposing satellite deployment tubes